Oil diverter and return system. relates to diverting a portion of internal combustion engine oil from the primary lubrication system to secondary devices. system provides for returning diverted oil to lubrication system after use by devices. two secondary devices can be used. one being provided restricted oil flow and the second being provided full flow. system includes method for attachment to engine. system includes method for capturing sample oil during operation of engine.

ABSTRACT

This embodiment is for diverting a portion of oil away from the primary lubrication system of an internal combustion engine to a secondary device while maintaining full oil pressure for another secondary device. The oil diverter provides restricted out going only oil flow to a device requiring oil flow back to the engine. The devices out going only anti flow back valve allows the secondary oil use device to maintain its oil level when oil pressure stops. The system includes the oil return device with the purpose to send the diverted oil back to the primary lubrication system after use by the secondary oil use device or devices. 
     The oil return contains a reservoir that facilitates the capture of sample oil during the operation of the engine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,091 filed 2011 Jul. 24 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Prior Art

U.S. Patents Patent Number Kind Code Issue Date Patentee 4,752,387 Jun. 21 , 1988 Thomas 4,452,695 Jun. 5, 1984 Schmidt U.S. Patent Application Publications Publication Nr. Kind Code Publ. Date Applicant 2008/0078716 A1 Apr 3, 2008 Farmer

Increased use of the diesel engine commonly finds deployment of a by-pass filter in addition to the standard full flow oil filter to assist with improved filtration of the engine oil. This practice allows the oil to be cleaned as the engine is running. The benefit is evident when extended oil change intervals are possible. The result is reduced oil use and decreased cost. By-pass filter cartridges are available in a variety of filtration grades. Many commercial grade vehicles that use diesel engines have the availability of systems to integrate the by-pass filter process.

2. Description of Prior Art

Many systems have been produced that allow connectivity of remotely located secondary oil filtration devices. The predominant method used connects the various filters and adapter bases together to route engine oil away from the internal lubrication system and back. Many engine types require the connectivity of the parts to be designed by the individual deploying the filtration device resulting in few standards and difficult to fabricate solutions. All remote filtration mounts heretofore are known to suffer from a number of disadvantages:

-   -   (a) Single device connectivity adapters limit the usefulness of         the oil diverting component.     -   (b) The use of common secondary filter systems will only allow         installation in the upright position as gravity will not allow         the installation in an inverted orientation without drain back.     -   (c) Other systems rely on alteration or machining of engine         components for the oil to effectively return to the engine oil         supply.     -   (d) Oil samples are extracted and used for analysis to determine         wear rates on internal components of the engine. Sample         extraction is difficult and risky when removal of a component,         while running the engine is required for collection.     -   (e) A lack of standardization and difficult installation when         connecting oil diverter, filtration, and return devices to         engines complicates their use.

ADVANTAGES

Several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: Use without modification to the engine, oil feed to multiple devices simultaneously, oil flow is restricted within the anti flow back valve circuit while allowing unrestricted flow in a parallel circuit, oil samples collect constantly while the engine is running permitting access to the sample after the engine and oil have cooled. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of the oil return body assembly according to the present invention

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the oil return body assembly and oil return clamp assembly

FIG. 2A is a left side perspective view of the oil diverter and anti flow back valve assembly showing oil flow according to the present invention

FIG. 2B is the left side front end perspective view of the oil diverter

FIG. 2C is the right side perspective view of the oil diverter

FIG. 2D is the bottom perspective view of the oil diverter

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the oil return body assembly and oil diverter including a conventional secondary oil device and depicting oil flow between the devices.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

See accompanying drawings.

Drawing Reference Numerals Drawing 1/4 FIG. 1A - 110 Conventional Oil Cap 112 Oil Cap Boss 114 Oil Cap Rotation Stop 116 Oil Cap Retainer Slot 118 Clearance hole 120 Threaded Hole Left 122 Threaded Oil Input Port 124 Oil Return Body Assembly 126 Threaded Hole Right 128 Left Oil Return Clamp Flange 130 Oil Return Clamp Clearance Slot 132 Left Clamp Screw Chamfer 134 Oil Return Clamp Assembly 136 Clamp Screw 138 Right Oil Return Clamp Flange 140 Right Clamp Screw Chamfer 142 Clamping Bolt 144 Oil Inlet Hole 146 Conventional Circlip Fastener 148 Oil Groove 150 Oil Capture Vessel 152 Plugged Base of Capture Vessel 153 Twist Retainer Assembly 154 Oil Cap Mortise Number One 156 Concavity Passage 158 Oil Inlet Hole 160 Oil Cap Mortise Number Two 162 Opening To Fit Capture Vessel 164 Threaded Locking Socket Screw 166 Retainer Locking Lug 168 Engine Valve Cover Enclosure 170 Engine Oil Inlet Boss 172 Engine Oil Inlet Boss Notch Drawing 2/4 FIG. 1B - 174 Oil Return O ring 176 Oil Return Inlet Passage Drawing 3/4 FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, FIG. 2C, FIG. 2D - 210 Anti Flow Back Valve Spring Retainer Plug 212 Anti Flow Back Valve Spring 214 Anti Flow Back Valve Ball 216 Anti Flow Back Valve Plug Hole 218 Unrestricted Oil Out Flow 220 Top Oil Diverter Mortise 222 Oil Diverter Mounting Hole 224 Engine Oil Out Flow 226 Out Only Restricted Oil Out Flow 228 Oil Out Port 230 Oil Passage Plug Hole 232 Unrestricted Oil Out Flow Sensor/Sender 234 Oil Diverter 236 Oil Sensor/Sender Port 238 Oil Diverter Inlet Passage 242 Conventional Banjo Bolt 244 Threaded Plug 246 Bottom Oil Diverter Mortise 248 Unrestricted Oil Out Flow Port Drawing 4/4 FIG. 3 - 310 Conventional Oil Line Fitting 312 Conventional Oil Line 314 Engine Block 316 Engine Block Oil Outlet 318 Oil Inlet Passage 320 Diverter Oil Out Flow 322 Conventional Secondary Oil Device 324 Secondary Device Oil Out Flow

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The apparatus of the present invention is depicted schematically in FIGS. 1A and 2A and is comprised of two primary devices in the oil return body assembly 124 and oil diverter 234.

As seen in FIG. 1A the oil return body assembly 124 comprises the device formed by the aggregate of the following, starting with oil cap boss 112 containing oil cap retainer slot 116 and oil cap rotation stop 114 to fit conventional oil cap 110. There is clearance hole 118 and associated oil cap mortise number one 154 and oil cap mortise number two 160 in the center of the return assembly 124 as clearance for the oil cap 110. The oil return clamp assembly 134 is affixed to the bottom of return assembly 124 by means of clamp screw 136 in two places to be located in left clamp screw chamfer 132 and right clamp screw chamfer 140 fastening through left oil return clamp flange 128 and right oil return clamp flange 138 to threaded hole left 120 and threaded hole right 126. The clamping action is facilitated by the oil return clamp clearance slot 130 and clamping bolt 142.

Referring to FIG. 1A the return assembly 124 further contains the twist retainer assembly 153 providing a method to lock return assembly 124 to the engine valve cover enclosure 168 by the retainer locking lug 166 and its insertion into the engine oil inlet boss notch 172 within the engine oil inlet boss 170. Threaded Locking Socket Screw 164 secures retainer assembly 153 to return assembly 124 when tightened. Oil delivery from the conventional secondary oil device 322 consists of oil flow to threaded oil input port 122 then through inlet passage 176 as shown in FIG. 1B to concavity passage 156 to the oil inlet hole 158 to oil groove 148 then through oil inlet hole 144 for oil delivery to oil capture vessel 150 resting in opening to fit capture vessel 162 vertically held in place by conventional circlip fastener 146. Capture vessel 150 oil overflow returns through boss 170 to the engine facilitated by the plugged base of capture vessel 152.

In FIG. 1B it can be seen that the return assembly 124 provides threaded oil input port 122 connection to oil return inlet passage 176.

Referring to FIG. 1B the cross-sectional view shows oil return o ring 174 creates a fluid seal between return assembly 124 and engine oil inlet boss 170.

FIG. 2A shows oil diverter 234 to include anti flow back valve plug hole 216 to be sealed by anti flow back valve spring retainer plug 210 containing anti flow back valve spring 212 and anti flow back valve ball 214 for out only restricted oil out flow 226. In addition FIG. 2A shows oil passage plug hole 230 as the opposing end of oil diverter inlet passage 238. (FIG. 2B)

Referring to FIG. 2A out only restricted oil out flow 226 is provided by oil out port 228 for said conventional secondary oil device 322. Alternatively unrestricted oil out flow 218 (FIG. 2A) is provided by unrestricted oil out flow port 248 (FIG. 2C) creating oil flow for an additional conventional secondary oil device 322. In addition unrestricted oil out flow sensor/sender 232 is provided by oil sensor/sender port 236

FIG. 2B shows oil diverter 234 (FIG. 2A) with oil diverter mounting hole 222 and inlet passage 238.

FIG. 2C shows oil diverter 234 (FIG. 2A) with unrestricted oil out flow 218 (FIG. 2A) from unrestricted oil out flow port 248 along with threaded plug 244 and top oil diverter mortise 220. In addition the conventional banjo bolt 242 being an externally threaded hollow bolt having an axial bore and transverse port leading to the inlet passage 238 (FIG. 2B) from engine oil out flow 224. (FIG. 2A)

FIG. 2D shows oil diverter 234 (FIG. 2A) with bottom oil diverter mortise 246.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic view of the invention including return assembly 124 and oil diverter 234. It can be seen that oil diverter 234 shows conventional banjo bolt 242 providing a means of attachment, oil seal, and oil flow from engine block 314 using mounting hole 222 (FIG. 2A) along with top mortise 220 (FIG. 2A) and bottom mortise 246 (FIG. 2D) and oil out flow 224 using engine block oil outlet 316 through oil inlet passage 318 to inlet passage 238 (FIG. 2B) via unrestricted oil out flow sensor/sender 232 (FIG. 2A) to oil sensor/sender port 236. Alternatively out only restricted oil out flow 226 (FIG. 2A) exits using oil out port 228 (FIG. 2A) through conventional oil line fitting 310 and conventional oil line 312 as diverter oil out flow 320 to conventional secondary oil device 322. In addition Secondary device oil out flow 324 routes to return assembly 124 by way of conventional oil line fitting 310 and conventional oil line 312

Features and Operation

The present invention relates to an apparatus separate from the internal combustion engine and its primary oil filtration and oil circulation system. The two external devices as part of said invention provide a method for diverting a portion of primary engine oil flow to a conventional secondary oil device. The function of oil diverter 234 is to produce unrestricted oil out flow sensor/sender 232 for oil sensor/sender port 236 and unrestricted oil out flow 218 while producing out only restricted oil out flow 226 through oil out port 228 for conventional secondary oil device 322. Anti flow back valve spring 212 and anti flow back valve ball 214 comprise the flow restricting portion of oil diverter 234. The method to retain valve spring 212 is the anti flow back valve spring retainer plug 210 inserted into anti flow back valve plug hole 216. When engine oil out flow 224 applies sufficient pressure to valve ball 214 the oil supply overcomes the valve spring 212 bias on the ball against the seat thereby permitting out only restricted oil out flow 226 and providing diverter oil out flow 320 to conventional secondary oil device 322. In the event said pressure subsides said bias on valve ball 214 is relaxed resulting in blockage of restricted out flow 226 preventing reverse flow. Oil diverter 234 attaches to the engine block 314 via the engine block oil outlet 316 and Conventional banjo bolt 242 utilizing oil diverter mounting hole 222, top mortise 220, and bottom mortise 246.

Invention further includes the second method and device oil return body assembly 124 for returning said engine oil flow from conventional secondary oil device 322 back to the engine valve cover enclosure 168 and into the oil circulation system. Oil return o ring 174 creates the seal between return assembly 124 and enclosure 168. Oil out flow 224 passes through oil inlet passage 318 by way of conventional banjo bolt 242 to oil diverter inlet passage 238. Additionally said passage 318 connects through oil diverter 234 and inlet passage 238 to oil passage plug hole 230. Said engine oil outflow 224 is dispersed with full flow and pressure to oil sensor/sender port 236 while at the same time providing full flow and pressure to unrestricted oil out flow port 248 and additionally as out only restricted oil out flow 226 to said oil out port 228 for use by conventional secondary oil device 322. Secondary device oil out flow 324 routes to return assembly 124 by way of conventional oil line fitting 310 and conventional oil line 312 through threaded oil input port 122 then oil return inlet passage 176 and into retainer assembly 153 via concavity passage 156 through oil inlet hole 158 and oil groove 148 through oil inlet hole 144 to the oil capture vessel 150 where a small amount of oil is collected while allowing excess oil flow to return back to the engine as overflow through the openings on both sides of the retainer assembly 153 created by the fit into return assembly 124.

The return assembly 124 also includes the retainer assembly 153 providing a method and device for attachment of return assembly 124 to engine oil inlet boss 170 within the enclosure 168 by way of the retainer locking lug 166 inserted into the engine oil inlet boss notch 172. A twisting action engages said retainer locking lug 166 into said boss notch 172 providing the vertical and first of two methods comprising attachment of said return assembly 124 to the engine. The clamp assembly 134 provides the method to apply horizontal clamping action by way of the oil return clamp clearance slot 130 and clamping bolt 142. Said horizontal clamping action increases as clamping bolt 142 is tightened reducing the gap for clearance slot 130 until entire return assembly 124 is secured to the boss 170.

The clamp assembly 134 and the retainer assembly 153 are associated and to be used in unison as a method of attachment for the entire return assembly. Said clamp assembly 134 is secured to return assembly 124 by way of clamp screw 136 in two places through left 132 and right 140 clamp screw chamfers attaching to threaded hole left 120 and right 126. Additionally this attachment utilizes left 128 and right 138 clamp flanges. Once return assembly 124 and retainer assembly 153 are assembled a further securing method is utilized by tightening threaded locking socket screw 164 resulting in the coupling of the retainer assembly 153 previously locked into the boss notch 172 and the clamp assembly 134 already tightened by way of clamping bolt 142. The resulting union of the two assemblies provides secure attachment to said enclosure 168. Once return assembly 124 and retainer assembly 153 are combined conventional oil cap 110 uses oil cap mortise 154 and 160 as clearance to fit to retainer assembly 153.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that the embodiment of the oil diverter, oil return body, twist retainer and oil return clamp assemblies provide an apparatus, methods and devices facilitating an integrated apparatus for utilizing conventional secondary oil devices with internal combustion engines. Some of the unique features of each being the multi output port diverter with anti flow back valve, the method of attachment for the twist retainer and oil return body and the oil capture vessel.

While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible.

-   -   For example one or more conventional secondary oil devices can         be attached. If only one is needed threaded plug 244 can be         deployed blocking unrestricted oil out flow port 248.     -   The oil diverter 234, oil return body assembly 124, oil return         clamp assembly 134, twist retainer assembly 153, or oil capture         vessel 150 can be created from a variety of materials or changed         in size to still perform the same function. Color is not a         factor. Shapes can vary as well.     -   The anti flow back valve ball 214 and anti flow back valve         spring 212 seat within anti flow back valve plug hole 216 and         can vary in size of ball and bias of spring to fit the flow or         restriction desired. The seat for anti flow back valve ball 214         is created by striking a hardened ball of the same size for         suitable seal in aluminum. Alternatively harder material can be         used in creation of the oil diverter 234 and lapping procedures         or other custom seat creation will then assure seal of ball to         valve seat.     -   Methods other than threaded plugs may be used to cap anti flow         back valve plug hole 216 and unrestricted oil out flow port 248.     -   Conventional banjo bolt 242 can vary in material of construction         and configuration of overall size, length, thread specification,         internal axial bore and transverse port size and length.     -   Conventional circlip fastener 146 is available in a variety of         sizes and configurations to fit the oil capture vessel as         created.     -   Conventional oil cap 110 is available in a variety of size and         fit depending on the sizing and configuration used when creating         oil cap boss 112, oil cap rotation stop, clearance hole 118, and         oil cap retainer slot 116. Variations in the size and dimensions         can be adjusted to fit the conventional oil cap 110 and any of         the associated oil return assembly, including the oil return         clamp assembly 134 and twist retainer assembly 153 and also         including the oil capture vessel 150.     -   Thus the oil return clamp assembly 135, oil return body assembly         124, twist retainer assembly 153 can be adjusted or created in         alternate sizes and configurations to fit a variety of engine         valve cover enclosures. Engine valve cover enclosure 168 being         one embodiment. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not         by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and         their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for diverting engine oil from an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an engine block and internal oil lubrication system, the apparatus comprising: means for diverting a portion of engine oil to one or more out flowing ports while at the same time restricting out flowing oil from one of those ports in out flowing direction only.
 2. An apparatus for returning engine oil from said internal combustion engine of a vehicle having an engine block and internal oil lubrication system after said engine oil has been used by a conventional secondary oil device or multiple devices, the apparatus comprising: means for attachment of oil return device to engine means for attachment of twist retainer device to engine means for attachment of oil return and twist retainer devices to each other and as a unit to the engine means for collection of sample oil during normal engine operation means for returning said portion of engine oil back to said internal oil lubrication system after use by one or multiple conventional secondary oil devices. 